Bush rescinds a pardon

Honestly, I'm always confused about this tradition of mass pardons near the end of a term. It seems that no matter you politics, you seem to do this as President or Governor.

Can anyone offer some history on this?

Why do the pardons go out?

Why do they go to who they go to in stead of others?

T
K
Oh and yeah, I think it was a wise choice to cancel/reverse the pardon.

Article 2, section 2 of the US Constitution gives the President the power anyone, at anytime, for any crime.



As to why the pardons go out and what started the mass pardons at the end of the year, I honestly dont know the answer to that.

As to who they go to, people can petition the President for pardons, and the President and his staff go thru the petitions and make their decision.
What criteria they use to make those decisions, I dont know.

Oh I don't question the authority. I know they have the power to pardon, but the methodology for picking who is what I can't comprehend.

<sigh*>

T
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O

I agree.
Personally, I think they just draw names out of a hat.

Better to pull names from a hat than a shoe... (couldn't resist).

T
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O

There's actually an office that reviews the petitions. I believe for the most part that the folks have to have served their punishment, and express remorse. The pardon is erase the stigma of someone being a felon, I think.

This is based on something I read some months ago, though, so my recollections are subject to a reality check.